With the NBA calendar fast breaking toward the start of the regular season in less than a fortnight, odds for various season long awards are starting to trickle out, including Rookie of the Year. As for where Wizards newbie Bradley Beal ranks among the first-year folk, Bovada.lv offers the following:

Odds To Win 2012-2013 NBA Rookie Of The Year

Anthony Davis (NO) 19/10

Damian Lillard (POR) 11/2

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA) 9/1

Thomas Robinson (SAC) 19/2

Bradley Beal (WAS) 10/1

Harrison Barnes (GSW) 12/1

Jonas Valanciunas (TOR) 12/1

Dion Waiters (CLE) 15/1

Jeremy Lamb (HOU) 20/1

* Hardly a stunner that Davis, the unibrowed shot-blocker and number one overall pick in the 2012 draft is the heavy favorite. Even for those onlookers not overly familiar with his collegiate exploits at Kentucky, the 6-foot-10 center picked up legitimate cool points after spending the summer as a member of Team USA's gold medal winning men's squad. Barring injury or some sort Kwame Brown horrid adjustment, it would be a stunner if Davis' interior talents didn't runaway with the award.

*As for Beal, the No. 3 pick sits fifth on the list; Lillard (sixth) and Robinson (fifth) jumped ahead of Washington's rookie. Skilled and advanced as the 19-year-old's perimeter game and composure is, his style almost works against him in such popularity contests. Outside of knocking down copious amount of jumpers in a row, the Florida product doesn't figure to generate a crazy amount of newsy highlights or attention-getting sound bites. Those watching on a nightly basis will appreciate the subtleties to his game, but poise doesn't generate buzz (nor does coming off the bench, which remains a possibility, if not probability).

In addition to Davis, the short-attention span world may instead find Kidd-Gilchrist's hard-charging style, Lillard's lead guard role or Robinson's chiseled frame and rebounding prowess more eye-catching. Then again, if Beal opens and sticks as Washington's backcourt starter, becomes a catalyst for a Wizards' solid start despite no John Wall and just drops buckets, we'll see. We'll see for second place that is.

As a fellow NBA head coach, Scott Brooks understands what Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers is going through. As his former teammate, Ramon Sessions knows how tough Lue is.

Both members of the Wizards shared their reactions after Monday's practice to the news Lue is stepping away from the Cavs to deal with a health issue. Both expressed hope Lue will not be out long as the NBA continues its trek towards the playoffs.

"All of our thoughts are with him," Brooks said. "You hope that it's nothing serious. Health is the most important [thing]. The game is secondary."

"Prayers out to T-Lue," said Sessions, who played with Lue in Milwaukee. "It's one of those things where you've gotta take care of yourself at the end of the day. Him stepping away is the best thing."

Lue's illness has been a mystery to doctors, according to a statement he released on the Cavaliers' website. He has dealt with chest pains and other symptoms while also struggling to sleep. The hope is that having time off will allow him to get the rest he needs.

Brooks knows firsthand how difficult it is to get sleep during the regular season as a coach.

"You just have to figure out ways to get your rest. Some days are better than others. Sometimes you think after a good win you can have a good night's rest or sometimes it's the opposite. It's just hard to get rest. You're traveling in different timezones. You are emotional after games. You eat late. There are a lot of factors that go into it. We don't have a set schedule every night. I have a good staff and I rely on them," he said.

Lue, 40, will be replaced by associate head coach Larry Drew in the interim. The Cavs happen to be in a tight playoff race with the Wizards and other teams in the Eastern Conference battling for position.

On the latest episode of the Wizards Tipoff podcast presented by Greenberg and Bederman, host Chase Hughes was joined by Bullets/Wizards legend Phil Chenier ahead of his jersey retirement set for this upcoming weekend on March 23.

Chenier looked back on his playing and broadcasting career and told great stories. He also shared some memories of the 1978 championship as the franchise gets ready to honor its 40th anniversary.